The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter twenty-one.
By the time Valentine's day rolled around Eliza was sick to death of the love potion. She'd spent hours toiling away in the library, in the empty classroom, and even in her bed trying to perfect the brew. Tirelessly she took notes on each outcome and poured over books trying to correct her mistakes. She'd been very close but getting it to not create obsession in the person who drank it was proving more difficult than she thought it would be. The two testers that Lee chose both ended up with the twins nearly being exposed for selling it. The teachers were already wound up after Ron was attacked in his bed by Sirius Black. She almost shut down the project entirely.
After the attack the security around the castle made it impossible for them to meet up anywhere near the classroom without a teacher asking them what they were doing. There was a strict curfew and students were expected to be in their common rooms promptly after dinner. Therefore, the only time she could see the twins outside of class was during meal times.
"Just sneak out." Said Fred one night to which Eliza refused. "No thanks. I've had detention once and I don't plan on doing it again." She said as she listened to George and Lee snickering about how they'd just snuck into the kitchens a few nights prior.
"That 'good girl' act you have going doesn't fool us, Iz." Lee said.
Eliza rolled her eyes. "It isn't an act. Not everyone thinks like you three." She said.
"Says the girl responsible for Pomfrey having to air out the hospital ward twice a day." George smirked. Eliza didn't have a comeback for that. He was right. Maybe she wasn't completely 'good' all the time. But it had been in exchange for help to progress in her classes. Okay, maybe that didn't make it any better.
It was wonderful to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione's relationship on the mend though it wasn't under the most ideal circumstances. When she'd asked Harry about it he'd explained and she tried to offer comforting words but it did very little. Eliza had chosen not to take Care Of Magical Creatures when it was offered as an elective so it was hard for her to relate to their issue aside from being sad that a creature would be put to death.
From what she was told it was due to Malfoy's arrogance that the hippogriff would be put down but Eliza didn't think it was wise for her to dwell on that for too long. Her last encounter with Draco hadn't made her too keen on being in his proximity. Aside from a few narrowed gazes she kept to herself in that respect. Eliza received small appreciative smiles for the attempt to tell them that Buckbeak would at least be in a better place and away from the spiteful boy but there wasn't anything she could do for them other than offer support.
Her lessons with Dumbledore were changed to every other week and the man appeared weary during some of them. Eliza imagined it couldn't always be easy to be the headmaster especially in a school where it seemed danger lurked around every corner. Though he was still helping her she would catch him staring off in the distance on occasion and she would do her part not to make their time together difficult.
Homework was becoming a nightmare. Even though she was always the type to finish her assignments early Eliza was having trouble keeping up with the workload. Even Professor Sprout was tripling their course work saying that exams would be upon them sooner than they thought and she wanted to make sure they were prepared.
During the study group with the younger students she was split between helping them and working diligently on her homework. Macgonagall's course was becoming the hardest though. More than once she'd had to stay up beyond midnight, eyes heavy and hand cramping. Victor, Kelly, and Hannah kept her company but there was very little fun to be had.
Alicia and Luke were in a similar situation. In their letters they were both complaining about the amount of work they were being assigned and they went back and forth sharing their pain. The lighter points of the letters were when they would swear they would get together over break for at least a week. They fantasized about sleepovers and adventures that she truly hoped they would be able to have together.
It was on a clear, sunny Saturday in the middle of March that Eliza finally snapped and decided to blow off her homework. She took Rikki outside and let him explore while she sat admiring the black lake. Rikki seemed to understand that wandering too close to the shore was a foolish idea and she enjoyed watching him play and roll around in the grass. Aside from the ferret she'd only brought the journal. The twins were off with Lee blowing off steam so she wasn't expecting a message back for a long while. Still, it had become a habit to carry it and she read over their last conversation to pass the time.
Too bad you couldn't finish it before v-day. -F
Too much going on anyways. Not much of a loss.- G
If Filch had caught me in that classroom I would have blamed it all on you. He has it out for you two anyway.
The two had convinced her to stop by the empty classroom to work on the love potion since they were in a time crunch. It had resulted in a near-miss when she'd dropped one of the cauldrons while putting it away. Filch had opened the door and checked around inside while she'd hidden in one of the cabinets. She'd barely been able to squeeze into it as there were chairs and desks stacked up next to it. Eliza had been stuck there for half an hour until she felt safe to leave.
But he didn't. -G
Think we can get back to work soon? -F
With the amount of homework we have? Are you out of your mind?
That reminds me. Can you do my potions homework? -F
I did it last time!
Security has gone down. -G
HOMEWORK!
It's the most stressful time of the year. People need a laugh..-G
Exams are coming up in just over three months!
You worry too much, Iz. -F
You worry too little...
Izzy. Relax. Take a break. Get some fresh air. -G
And so she had. Honestly taking George's advice did a whole lot of good. With the breeze playing with her hair and the sound of waves lapping gently at the shore she was able to notice the tension in her shoulders ease. As she sat there she thought back on the school year thus far. Six months felt like they had flown by. There were only three months of school left and while she was excited for the break so she could see Alicia and Luke she didn't know how she felt about the year coming to a close so quickly. It led her back to worrying about exams and she was grateful when Tasha joined her. "Enjoying the weather?" She asked.
Eliza set the journal to the side. "I needed a break." She said and Tasha nodded. "All of you fifth years are so busy. When I saw all of your homework last group I thought I was going to be sick." The girl made a face. Eliza rubbed Rikki's belly as he flopped over on his back next to her. "You just wait. In four years it's going to be you."
She'd meant for the words to be playful but Tasha looked thoughtful as she gazed out at the lake and her brow furrowed. "By then you'll be gone. You won't be around to help anymore." Eliza felt her heart tearing itself into tiny pieces. "Don't think about that right now. It's way too soon." Eliza rushed to reassure her but Tasha sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees and hugging them to her chest.
Eliza didn't know what to do so she wrapped her arms around the girl and gave her a tight hug. "You still have two more years. By then you'll be sick of me correcting your homework." She said. Tasha's face broke with a small smile and she nodded. "You're right. Guess I'm just getting sentimental because school is almost over."
They sat quietly and relaxed in the sun for a while until Cas called Tasha's name. They had agreed to meet up with their friend, Thomas. Tasha invited Eliza but she declined. "Nah. You go ahead. Have fun. I have to get back to the grind." She pushed herself up and watched the girl run off to be with her friends. Cas waved from afar and she wiggled her fingers at her in response.
Rikki followed, running back and forth as she returned inside the castle. She was going to head back to the common room to get back to work when she spotted Harry sitting by himself in the astronomy courtyard. He had his elbows on his knees and seemed to be watching the other students with a far away gaze. Eliza thought about the homework waiting for her but he looked severely down in the dumps. First Tasha now Harry? 'Looks like I'm doing damage control today.' She thought to herself before heading his way.
Rikki got to him first and Harry snapped out of whatever trance he was in when the ferret climbed up his calf and he set him in his lap. "Hey, buddy." He greeted him. He looked up as Eliza approached. "Hey." The half-smile he offered didn't quite make it to his eye so she plopped down next to him on the bench. "Where are your friends?" She asked. It wasn't often one would see Harry without Ron, Hermione, or both. If one was around another wasn't far off.
Harry focused on Rikki who was sniffing at his pockets looking for food. "They're working on Buckbeak's defense."
Eliza crossed one leg over the other and rested her arms on the back of the bench. "And you're not with them because..."
He shrugged. "I needed some air."
"I'm right there with you. The words were starting to move on the page." Eliza attempted to be funny but he only gave her that half-smile again. Her sense of something being wrong was tingling.
"Something on your mind?" She asked.
Harry was quiet for a moment and he was toying with Rikki's paws as the ferret squirmed on his back. "Every year it's something." He finally said.
"Care to elaborate?" While she'd heard plenty of stories of Harry's time at Hogwarts they were rarely from the boy himself.
"First year it was Voldemort plotting from the back of a teacher's head, then the chamber of secrets, and now Sirius Black wants to kill me. Every year something happens.." His shoulders drooped and she could imagine the weight of the world on them. "It's like I can never just be Harry. I always have to be Harry Potter The Boy Who Lived."
Eliza could somewhat relate to the 'someone wants to kill me' part but to be in his shoes had to be a terrible burden. "If it makes you feel better I see you as 'just Harry'." She said. "Sure, when I first met you I was like 'oh wow it's Harry Potter!' but you're just Harry now." She let one of her arms move off the back of the bench and rubbed his back in small circles much like she had for Tasha on Halloween.
Harry gave her an odd look as if he was thrown off by her rubbing his back but she didn't stop and he didn't complain. "You know how you felt after pushing Malfoy? Everyone staring at you? Talking about you? I feel that all the time."
Eliza recalled exactly how nervous she'd been about showing her face after that particular incident.
"You know what helped?" She removed her hand from his back. "Having my friends around. Fred, George, Hermione, Kelly. You." Eliza took his hand and held it loosely. It always made her feel better to have someone holding her hand. It made her feel supported and safe and she wanted to give Harry that same feeling."You might be The Boy Who Lived but you're also the boy who has friends to support him and help carry his burdens." She said.
Harry made eye contact and he looked like he was getting ready to say something meaningful for a moment. Instead, he cracked a smile and looked down at their hands. "Americans are really touchy." He chuckled. Though she couldn't tell if she'd actually helped she was glad to see that she had at least amused him. "Do you hold hands with all of your friends?"
Eliza chuckled and squeezed before letting go. "Only the ones who look like they need it."
Harry picked up Rikki and handed him over to her. "I should get back." He said and she waved him off. "Go on before I hug you next."
"Thanks, Eliza."
She watched him go feeling accomplished and looked down at Rikki who was now sniffing the spot where Harry had been sitting. Did he keep food in his pockets or something? "I think we made him feel better. What do you think, Bubba?" She picked Rikki up and he twitched his whiskers. She kissed him on the nose and set him back down to check the journal.
If anyone asks we've been with you all afternoon! -F
Eliza let her head fall back and she sighed. "Not my circus but those are definitely my monkeys.."